CHAPTER 102
"Aaaagh!!!"
Hyuga Yukian's heart-wrenching scream echoed across the battlefield.
The entire Water Prison instantly turned crimson with blood.
"I got it! Retreat!"
Ao suppressed the wild joy surging in his heart as he gripped the warm eyeball and prepared to withdraw.
However, at that very moment, a violent sound of air being torn apart exploded across the deck.
"Eight Gates!"
"Fourth Gate, Gate of Pain!"
"Open!!"
A wave of Chakra several times stronger than before erupted violently.
Wooden splinters flew across the deck.
Mei Terumī had only just climbed out of the sea and had not even figured out what was happening when she suddenly saw a pair of large feet descending from above.
Bang!
The kick landed directly on her face.
She was sent crashing back into the sea once again.
Using Mei Terumī's face as a stepping stone, Guy's body transformed into a bolt of green lightning and shot toward Ao.
The alloy nunchaku in his hand swung with all his strength.
"Sweeping Thousands!"
The long chain dragged the two short sticks into a frenzy.
Countless stick shadows intertwined into a violent golden storm that smashed fiercely toward the enormous Water Prison trapping Hyuga Yukian.
Boom!!!
The rapidly rotating walls of the Water Prison Shark Dance Technique instantly exploded beneath the overwhelming force generated by the Fourth Gate.
Water erupted in every direction.
Fragments of Chakra scattered through the air.
Ao's figure was exposed the moment the Water Prison shattered.
Before he could stabilize himself, a terrifying force hidden within the stick shadows crashed directly into the hand holding the Byakugan.
The Byakugan flew out of his grasp.
"Damn brat!"
Ao was both shocked and furious.
The treasure he had coveted for so long had already fallen into his hands.
Yet at the final moment, it was knocked away.
He watched helplessly as the pure white eyeball flew through the air.
"Water Release: Water Encampment Wall!"
Ao instantly formed hand seals.
A thick wall of water rose between him and Guy.
At the same time, his free hand condensed Chakra and reached toward the falling Byakugan.
But Guy was even faster.
The instant the Water Encampment Wall appeared, the deck beneath his feet shattered.
His figure bypassed the side of the water wall in a flash.
A Great Vajra Leg carrying all his strength and fury erupted with dazzling golden light.
It slammed directly toward Ao's waist.
Bang!!!
Ao hastily defended.
Even so, he was kicked flying sideways.
His body smashed through the stern railing before he finally managed to stabilize himself.
A trace of blood flowed from the corner of his mouth.
Meanwhile, the Byakugan's trajectory changed once again because of the impact.
Although it flew back into the air, this time it drifted toward the side of the ship where Hozuki Mangetsu was fighting.
Hozuki Mangetsu, who was battling Ebisu and Genma, caught sight of the object from the corner of his eye.
"The Byakugan?"
His heart skipped a beat.
He immediately feinted with his blade, forcing Ebisu backward.
Then he leaped away and stretched out his hand toward the falling eye.
"Don't even think about it!"
At that moment, Hyuga Yukian, whose right eye had become a bloody cavity, finally escaped from the shattered Water Prison.
Relying on the vision of his remaining Byakugan and his astonishing willpower, he saw everything clearly.
The instant he saw Hozuki Mangetsu about to touch the eye that belonged to him, all pain and weakness vanished from his face.
Only unwavering resolve remained.
There was no hesitation.
There was not even a trace of reluctance.
Hyuga Yukian gathered every last bit of Chakra he possessed.
His remaining left palm struck through the air toward the pure white eyeball falling from the sky.
"Gentle Fist Art: Eight Trigrams Vacuum Palm!"
Bang!!!
An invisible wave of Chakra arrived first despite being launched later.
It struck the eyeball with perfect precision.
The pure white eye burst apart in midair like a smashed egg.
Blood mist and tiny fragments of Chakra scattered across the sky.
The Byakugan was completely destroyed.
Hozuki Mangetsu's hand closed around nothing.
He caught only empty air and a few droplets of blood.
For a moment, he froze.
A look of astonishment appeared on his face as he stared at the swaying yet fierce-looking Hyuga Yukian.
It wasn't only him.
Ao had just regained his footing.
Mei Terumī had climbed back onto the deck, still bearing a shoe print on her face.
Even Guy, Ebisu, and Genma were stunned.
No one had expected Hyuga Yukian to be so decisive.
With Guy's sudden eruption of strength and Konoha reinforcements rapidly approaching, it was not impossible that the Byakugan could have been recovered.
Yet Hyuga Yukian had personally destroyed it without hesitation.
Ao's face instantly became extremely ugly.
His complexion alternated between pale and livid.
His eyes were filled with heartache, rage, and unwillingness.
He glanced at the four battered Konoha shinobi who had regrouped together.
Their bodies were wounded, but their fighting spirit remained strong.
Then he looked toward the distant sea.
Several black dots were rapidly growing larger through the fog.
They were clearly Konoha vessels rushing toward the battlefield after spotting the signal flare and sensing the commotion.
"Retreat!"
Ao made the decision immediately.
He knew that this carefully planned operation, one that had nearly succeeded, had been completely ruined.
Ruined by the green-clad brat and by Hyuga Yukian's unexpected ruthlessness.
The mission had utterly failed.
Ao grabbed Mei Terumī, who had just climbed aboard and was staring coldly at Guy while rubbing her swollen face.
Seeing the situation, Hozuki Mangetsu no longer continued fighting.
With a cold snort, his body instantly merged into the surrounding seawater.
The Hydrification Technique activated.
The Hidden Mist vessel surged forward under a tremendous burst of momentum.
It quickly turned around and sped into the depths of the thick fog.
Ao and Mei Terumī stood upon the rapidly retreating ship.
Before leaving, Ao looked at Hyuga Yukian.
His expression was filled with pain and resentment.
After plotting for so long, he had believed the Byakugan would finally become his today.
In the end...
Ao's gaze shifted toward Guy.
That look was like a venomous snake.
It was as though he wanted to carve Guy's appearance into his very bones.
Mei Terumī's expression was equally unfriendly.
This battle in the Land of Waves had also been her debut on the battlefield.
Yet...
She raised a hand and touched the swollen shoe print on her face.
The burning pain only intensified the shame and irritation in her eyes.
She stared directly at Guy.
Her lips moved slightly.
No sound carried across the distance.
But from the shape of her mouth, the meaning was obvious.
"The next time we meet, I'll definitely kick you back."
Guy was breathing heavily.
The burden imposed by the Fourth Gate made his entire body tremble.
Yet even while watching the retreating Hidden Mist ship, he stubbornly maintained his posture.
Then he raised the sole of his foot toward Mei Terumī.
In terms of momentum, he absolutely refused to lose.
Mei Terumī was instantly furious and nearly turned around to charge back.
Fortunately, Ao stopped her in time.
The Hidden Mist ship quickly vanished into the dense fog.
Only after their figures completely disappeared did the violent green steam surrounding Guy finally dissipate.
An overwhelming sense of weakness flooded through his body.
Fortunately, he could still endure it.
On the other side, Hyuga Yukian had been forcing himself to remain standing.
He had stubbornly maintained the final dignity of a Hyuga Main House member.
But now, he could no longer hold on.
Thud.
He collapsed directly onto the blood-soaked deck and completely lost consciousness.
His appearance was miserable beyond words.
His Chakra reserves were nearly exhausted.
His face was pale as paper.
Where his right eye had once been, only a mangled and bloody cavity remained.
Blood soaked half his face and stained his collar crimson.
Numerous wounds from the battle covered his body.
But fortunately...
The eye was gone.
The secret of the Byakugan remained protected.
The honor of the Hyuga Main House had not been tarnished because of him.
In the distance, the approaching ships finally arrived.
As expected, they were Konoha reinforcements.
The moment the Konoha shinobi saw the battlefield, their expressions changed dramatically.
Without wasting a single second, they rushed forward.
Hyuga Yukian was immediately taken aboard for emergency treatment.
The entire force rapidly evacuated the waters surrounding Mist Island.
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